Editorial: Bartell's Answer
Daily Review, Sept. 01, 1950
Full Text:
Harry Bartell, chairman of the counly board of supervisors, yesterday answered a letter from the Eden Council for Civic Unity.
In answer to one of the three questions asked by the council, Bartell said, "No plans have ever been proposed to bring water to Russell City."
As we had expected, a misunderstanding does exist about the water situation of Russell City. Bartell admits there has been a misunderstanding, and Indicates it was in ever assuming there was a plan proposed to get water to Russell City.
However, it is true that city and county officials met last year to discuss something. City official said at that time that discussions were being held to try to work out a means of getting water to Russell City. They still say that was the subject of those meetings.
In addition, they say that the supervisors Indicated to the city that If Hayward could get enough water as far as the National Guard facilities, then the county would get it to Russell City.
Probably the city misunderstood, too.
But the misunderstandings did not end there. The chairman of the board of supervisors says the city agreed to install a 12-inch, line or two six-inch lines "to make available to the people in the vicinity of the water lines the opportunity to connect with the lines at the expense of the water users."
However, facts of the case are that the city never did consider two slx-Inch lines along Winton road. Just the opposite, the city was seeking some method of financing a line larger than a six inch line because It DID NOT in the future want two six inch lines along that route.
Bartell apparently forgot that a 12-inch line has the capacity of nearly THREE six-inch lines.
It should be noted that the supervisor does not say the city agreed to install a line to Russell City. The line always had its end, as far as the city went, at the National Guard facilities.
"The people in the vicinity of the water lines" are now getting connections. They are the the subdividers north of Winton road and along Hesperian boulevard. And these subdividers paid for the Winton road main as well as for the connections.
But Bartell claims that in consideration of the city installing the large line instead of a six-Inch line, the board agreed to make available to the city the sum of $50,000 for road purposes.
Previous years show the city might expect at least $30,000 of that amount for actual road work needs based on past practice.
Assuming for a moment that the giving of road funds "in consideration" for other work done is legal, then we have the case of the county bringing water to residents of an unincoroprated area between the city and the airport.
Then this unincorporated area comes into the city through annexation, and water connections are made.
The city says the road funds were not accepted "in consideration" for the 12Inch line. Subdividers financed the line through a per acreage fee upon annexation.
Perhaps the county misunderstood.
But the point is that the county feels it helped pay the way for water lines along Winton to the airport. How can the county then state that it impossible to pay the way for water lines to Russell City from the airport?
The city has a large enough line to serve Russell City. It was made large enough to serve Russell City, the National Guard, and the subdivisions that financed the difference between a six and 12-inch line.
In addition, the city is willing to sell water to Russell City residents WITHOUT annexation there. That concession is in opposition.
to a policy of the city in every other portion of the Hayward arca.
The concession was made in a sincere attempt to make water available to residents.
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